The Royal Ascot Carnival reaches it’s penultimate meeting on Friday where the feature race is Commonwealth Cup (1200m), bringing together a crack bunch of upcoming sprinters.

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Race 1. (23:30) Albany Stakes 1200m

Back Me

If you listen to anyone who follows UK/Irish racing, they want to tell you 5 Fairyland (Bet Now:$4.00) just wins so I’ll cop the tip. Aidan O’Brien trains this filly, who was absolutely dynamic when winning last time out at the Curragh against the boys at Listed level, running slick time and doing it with ease. If she’s right, off what I’ve seen, she should be winning.

Danger

8 Just Wonderful (Bet Now:$3.00) is a stablemate of Fairyland who has had just the one career start, which came in a maiden at the Curragh where she had the suck run behind the speed before Ryan Moore angled her towards the rail where she showed a lovely turn of foot to score a narrow but impressive win. Interesting he rides her and not Fairyland.

Long Shot

18 Stillwater Cover (Bet Now:$15.00) is a Wesley Ward trained filly who is 1/1 to start her career, with that race being a 900m maiden at Keeneland, and visually, it was ugly. Showed great speed to lead, but did a bit wrong on the turn and was pretty much out on her feet 200m out yet fell in. Personally, I think she’s too short at around $7-$8, but she’s in the right stable.

Race 2. (00:05) King Edward Vll Stakes 2400m

Back Me

I think the upside lies with 7 Raa Atoll (Bet Now:$4.50) for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. He only won a novice race at Newmarket over 2000m last time out, but gee it looked pretty good to the eye, showing a nice turn of foot when asked and winning quite impressively on the line. He has upside, fresh legs and the Frankie factor.

Danger

2 Delano Roosevelt (Bet Now:$3.75) is an Aidan O’Brien trained colt who comes through the Derby at Epsom where he just never looked happy around that tricky track along with the heavy ground when finishing sixth, a run which wasn’t too bad all things considered. This looks more his go and is a deserving fav.

Long Shot

3 Elector (Bet Now:$12.00) is a horse owned by the Queen trained by Sir Michael Stoute and gets James McDonald steering so there’ll be good interest from Australian punters. This horse ran second to Raa Atoll in the Newmarket race mentioned above. He never really looked like picking up that runner but I thought he stuck to the task okay late. Draws to get a soft run in transit and he can run a bold race at odds.

Race 3. (00:40) Commonwealth Cup 1200m

Back Me

Not sure how they beat 6 Equilateral (Bet Now:$5.50) here. Charlie Hills trains this Equiano colt, who resumed at Doncaster over 1200m and he won like Black Caviar. Won by eight lengths, barely touched and smashed the clock. Second horse has come out and bolted in next start, so the form reads so well. Got J Mac on, and yes, form is inferior to some of the others, but he might well be something special.

Danger

15 Sioux Nation (Bet Now:$5.50) looks the obvious. Aidan O’Brien trains this Scat Daddy colt, who gave them a galloping lesson at Naas, winning quite comfortably under Ryan Moore in good time. The worry with him is the trip on firm going. Lethal with give in the track but on top of the ground is the slight concern. Still, he has class.

Long Shot

13 Rouseel (Bet Now:$29.00) is a Kodiac colt for Charlie Appleby who scored a nice first up win at Doncaster before going to the Westow at York where he was rather one paced but kept finding to just miss out on picking up Main Desire. Reckon a fast run 1200m will really suit this bloke and I think he is a touch of overs.

Race 4. (01:20) Coronation Stakes 1600m

Back Me

I think you have to believe what you saw with 5 Billesdon Brook (Bet Now:$7.50) in the Thousand Guineas. Yes, she was $67 to win the race, but bear in mind there was a clear bias that afternoon towards those near the speed yet she rounded them up in a couple of strides and to the eye, she floated when she hit the front and the margin flattered her rivals. I think $5.50-$6 is a great price for a horse who really should be around $2.5-$3.

Danger

3 Alpha Centauri (Bet Now:$4.33) is a key threat. Jess Harrington trains this filly, who was a dominant winner of the Irish Thousand Guineas at the Curragh under Colin O’Donoghue, and the great thing about the win was that she did it despite doing plenty wrong late. She wandered around and was a bit loss but won well. Happily ran third in that race and was held behind Billesdon Brook, so the Irish form looks suspect, but this girl loves firm ground.

Long Shot

12 Veracious (Bet Now:$8.00) is a very interesting runner. Sir Michael Stoute trains this filly, who is first up here off the back of little injury hiccups which forced her to miss the Thousand Guineas. Has only won a maiden, but it was impressive and the form out of that has been good with the runner up, Winter Lightning, bolting up in a couple of races in Dubai. I think she’s the market and yard watch.

Race 5. (02:00) Sandringham Stakes 1600m

Back Me

10 Qayzna (Bet Now:$9.00) on top but it really looks a tough race. Gave them a belting first up in a Newmarket maiden before going to a Listed race there where she started fav but just pulled a bit too hard in the run which left her gassed at the end behind Lah Ti Dar. Should get a good speed here and cover from the draw.

Danger

4 Dathanna (Bet Now:$19.00) is 2/2 this time in for charlie Appleby. Hasn’t raced for nearly two months, where she had two runs, firstly winning at Kempton before a tough win at this track/distance. Bit to like about this daughter of Dubawi and stable are having a good run at the moment during this Carnival, so she has to be respected.

Long Shot

8 Betty F (Bet Now:$13.00) is a daughter of Frankel who has had the one run back from a break, which came over 1400m at Lingfield on the Synthetic where she sat off a slow speed and just took a little while to wind up but her finale was pretty good. She’s crazy odds here for mine, especially considering that Frankie jumps on.

Race 6. (02:35) Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes 2400m

Back Me

3 Clear Skies (Bet Now:$17.00) will do me e/w in the get out. Aidan O’Brien trains this daughter of Sea The Stars, who last raced in a Listed race at Goodwood over 1900m where she was a bit unlucky in a messy race, getting checked a couple of times before balancing up and finding the line with purpose to run second. Up to 2400m looks ideal and Ryan Moore takes over.

Danger

13 Dash Of Spice (Bet Now:$5.50) looks a progressive son of Teofilo who has been quite good this time in, finishing runner up in his first two outings for the prep before leading all the way to absolutely spank them at this trip during the Derby Carnival at Epsom, winning by six and doing it comfortably. If he brings that here, he’s in the game for sure.

Long Shot

15 Eynhallow (Bet Now:$11.00) is a Charlie Appleby trained gelding who hasn’t raced since a two run prep in Dubai where he ran fourth first up, and was unlucky not to win, before finishing second next time out after getting well back in the run. For mine, I reckon he could be one that the stable sends over for the Melbourne Spring, so I’d say he’s a definite watch here, especially with J Mac on.